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Where do I find a personal trainer who works with cancer patients?
Click on the CES Directory to find a trainer in your region.
What are the stages of lymphedema?
Stage 1 (mild) - when you awake in the morning your limb may be a normal size. The tissue is till in a “pitting” stage (when pressed by a finger the area indents and holds the indentation). This is called “Pitting Edema.”
Stage 2 (moderate) - the tissue does not “pit” (when pressed by a finger the tissue bounces back without leaving an indentation). The tissue has a spongy consistency.
Stage 3 (severe) - the tissue at this stage is hard (fibrotic) and will be unresponsive to the touch. The swelling is irreversible and the limb is very large and swollen.
Who is a candidate for lymphedema?
Anyone who has had radiation to, or removal of the lymph nodes anywhere in your body. Being overweight, elderly, in poor health, poor nutrition, and having an infection, can increase your risk. For specific exercises to prevent and manage lymphedema, contact your doctor or Cancer Exercise Specialist.
How can I prevent lymphedema?
Avoid insect bites, burns, skin irritants, hangnails, and torn cuticles. Wear loose fitting clothing on affected area. Avoid tight fitting jewelry on the affected arm or hand
Don’t overheat – avoid saunas, whirlpools, steam rooms, hot baths, and sun bathing.
Don’t receive shots, have blood drawn, or have blood pressure taken on affected arm.
If you are overweight and have experienced swelling, losing weight can help reduce it by reducing the amount of fatty tissue which retains fluid and blocks lymphatic pathways.
Remember that tennis, racquetball, golf, and bowling are all considered risky sports for upper extremity lymphedema and that soccer, running, skating etc…. are risky sports for lower extremity lymphedema.
Keep the at-risk area(s) spotlessly clean and use lotion after bathing.
Avoid repetitive movements with the affected area · Avoid heavy lifting with the affected or at-risk arm. Never carry heavy handbags or bags with over-the-shoulder straps on the affected arm.
When traveling by air, wear compression sleeves or stockings.
Why is my posture so bad following my mastectomy?
Following a mastectomy, there may be scar tissue and adhesions across the mastectomy site causing tightness and muscle spasm in the chest wall. If the area is not stretched following surgery, it can become spastic and lead to round shoulder syndrome (the rounding forward of one or both shoulders). Round shoulder syndrome can also be exacerbated by the inherent “guarding” of the area after surgery. Prior to mastectomy, many of us have some degree of round shoulder syndrome as a result of poor posture and weak upper back muscles which seems to be compounded by the surgery. Matters can be made even worse following reconstruction which can cause muscle imbalances as well as additional scar tissue at the mastectomy site.
It is essential to address the resulting muscle imbalances following a mastectomy and/or reconstruction. . Most if not all of these issues can be corrected with the proper combination of stretching and strength training. Please consult a Cancer Exercise Specialist in your area for safe and effective guidance and programming.
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